To provide young and budding entrepreneurs the avenue and exposure to develop their very own startups, the Impact Start-Up Challenge (ISC) saw participants work in diverse and international teams to create ideas to impact businesses during the intensive one-week bootcamp. Participants then took their ideas to the test by pitching to investors during the Demo Day on 22 January 2022.
Two courses of the Impact Startup Challenges were run - the ASEAN-China track was intended for participants keen to solve social problems in the ASEAN-China region, while the Gerontology track oriented towards participants who took on challenge statements with our community in helping the older persons, their caregivers and family members.
The Gerontology track was also the first tie-up with student participants from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam and our very own SUSS students.
Check out some of the winning business ideas for each of the track:
ASEAN-China Track:
One of the winning teams, EcoPlas, uses leftover food as compost.
With an aim to promote sustainability to Vietnamese rice farmers, the EcoPlas team developed a strategy to repurpose food waste into eco-friendly compost which farmers can use to enrich their soil.
Meet the Paperbags.co team!
Another winning team is Paperbags.co, who successfully generated an idea of a profitable business model that delivers customisation services for shoes, bags, wallet and card holders.
Gerontology Track:
Participants of the Impact Startup Challenge, Gerontology track.
The QRcare team clinched the top spot as they ideated a cost-efficient and effective solution that helps social service organisations monitor the status of the beneficiaries’ meal location in real time. Silver meets Gold came in second place as they developed a strategy that eliminates elderly isolation by pairing volunteers and elderly over an extended period of time.
Joelle Lim from Silver meets Gold shared her experience: “It was an extremely eye-opening and insightful experience! Throughout the entire duration, we felt very grateful to have had our amazing mentors who gave us invaluable advice from their first-hand experiences in the industry.”
Southwest CDC Mayor Low Yen Ling, was invited to grace the Gerontology Track’s Demo Day where she presented the Youth Grant Support from Southwest CDC. She also urged students to seize the opportunity to create an age-friendly community.
The Impact Startup Challenge will have its next run from 4 to 9 July 2022. To find out more about the Impact Startup Challenge or register for the programme, visit the programme website here.